Seeking a student visa to the US? It’s time to unlock those social media profiles 

The State Department earlier said the move is meant to ‘facilitate vetting necessary to establish their identity and admissibility to the United States’

MANILA, Philippines — The US embassy in the Philippines has “requested” applicants for student or exchange visitor visas to set their social media accounts to “public” to “facilitate vetting necessary to establish their identity and admissibility to the United States under U.S. law.” 

The reminder, which was also posted on social media, follows an earlier announcement from the US State Department that it would “conduct a comprehensive and thorough vetting, including online presence, of all student and exchange visitor applicants in the F, M, and J nonimmigrant classifications.”

J visas, or exchange visitor visas, cover the following: 

• Au pair and EduCare
• Camp counselor
• Government visitor
• Intern
• International visitor (Department of State use)
• Physician
• Professor and research scholar
• Short-term scholar
• Specialist
• Student, college/university
• Student, secondary
• Summer work travel
• Teacher
• Trainee

F and M, or student visas, cover persons who want to enter the US for: 

• University or college
• High school
• Private elementary school
• Seminary
• Conservatory
• Another academic institution, including a language training program
• Vocational or other recognized nonacademic institution, other than a language training program

The US embassy in Manila also noted that visa applications — whether for immigration or temporary stays — had long required the disclosure of social media accounts. However, there had been no advisory in the past to make those accounts public. 

Earlier, the State Department said it was “committed to protecting our nation and our citizens by upholding the highest standards of national security and public safety through our visa process.” 

“We use all available information in our visa screening and vetting to identify visa applicants who are inadmissible to the United States, including those who pose a threat to U.S. national security,” it said in a media advisory. 

“Every visa adjudication is a national security decision. The United States must be vigilant during the visa issuance process to ensure that those applying for admission into the United States do not intend to harm Americans and our national interests, and that all applicants credibly establish their eligibility for the visa sought, including that they intend to engage in activities consistent with the terms for their admission,” said the State Department. 

The “new guidance” comes as the US, under President Donald Trump’s second term, tightened its migration policies. Trump’s push has raked in praise from his hardcore base, while also alarming citics, and immigration and human rights advocates over swift deportations and the arbitraty detention of people who had entered the US illegally. – Rappler.com